Flexible folder



H. W. SEVERANCE Feb, 26 1924.

FLEXIBLE FOLDER Filed April 24, 1922 Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

HORACE W. SEVEB/ANCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILSON-JONES LOOSE LEAF COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF I LLINOIS.

FLEXIBLE FOLDER.

Application filedApril 24, 1922. Serial No. 556,144..

= To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hoaxes VVJSEVER- ANOE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented .certain new and useful Improvemerits in a Flexible Folder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

This invention relates to a flexible folder adapted for reta-iningrecords not frequently disturbed.

A growingneed has arisen for a handy flexible folder in which corporation statements, minutes of meetings, briefs, form letters,,and other printed or written matter may be kept in quasi-permanent form, and in which publication or merchandise sam- .ples may be carried and exhibited to the trade. The old form of ring book or post binder would not suitably serve such a purpose since in the first place they would be too cumbersome and bulky, and in the second place the rings or posts would soon tear the slots in the l'ooseleaves or samples if the book or binder were used or carried around and exhibited to any extent.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a flexible folder in which sheets or samplesmay beretained in quasipermanent form, which occupies but little space if filed away, which may be used as a handly reference container and conveniently kept in a desk, and which is adapted to be readily carried around and exhibited without danger of tearing or mutilating the contents.

With these and other objects in view which will become more apparent in the following description and disclosures, this invention comprises the novel structure hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my folder containing some loose leaves.

invention, the reference numeral 1 designates a, flexible folder or cover preferably formed by folding a suitable piece of pliable or imitation leather upon a center line thereof. A flexible leaf retainer 2 consisting preferably of a strip of pliable or imitation leather is hinged at substantially its longitudinal center line to the inner side of the crease of the folder, and extends substantially to the ends thereof. The strip is sufficiently wide to form suitable side flaps 2 between which sheets or loose leaves are adapted to be secured by some means.

Vhile it is immaterial how the leaf retainer 2 is hinged to the crease of the folder, in the present instance, it has been shown as sewed along the center line 3. The object of thuswise hinging the leaf retainer 2 to the folder is for the purpose of allowing the retainer to freely swing laterally upon its hinge connection independently of the folder when the same is open or being opened, so that the action produced by opening and closing the folder will not disturb or stress the punctured and retained ends of the sheets or tend to tear or mutilate the same.

The means for securing the loose sheets between the flaps 2 comprises preferably a plurality of adjustable leaf retaining studs which extend through suitably spaced apertures in the side flaps. Each stud comprises a pair of headed members 41: and 5, the member a being provided with an externally threaded shank and the member 5 being provided with an internally threaded shank into which the member a is adapted to be adjustably screwed.

The sheets 6 which it is contemplated shall include any loose leaves, samples, form letters, or the like, and which are adapted to be retained between the flaps 2 are punched adjacent their inner margins with apertures or use of the binder.

times to add additional sheets.

corresponding to the apertures in the flaps 2 and similarly spaced, and in assembling these sheets, they are placed with their punched margins between the flaps 2 with their apertures registering with the apertures in the flaps. The shanks of the members 5 are then inserted through the registering apertures from one side of the assembled sheets, and the shanks of the member-s I are inserted in said apertures from the other side of the assembled sheets and screwed into the shanks 5, whereby the two heads of each stud may be drawn together to firmly bind or clamp the sheets between the flaps. To insert additional sheets, it is only necessary to unscrew the members 4; and turn the flap upon that side in a downward direction to admit the additional sheets to be placed upon the shanks of the members 5, as is obvious.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the apertured margins of the loose sheets are protected by the side flaps between which they are held and as the flexible retainer 2 can readily swing from side to side upon its hinge connection to the folder causing the bound or retained sheets to move as a unit therewith independently of the folder, there is slight liability of the loose sheets being torn at their apertures, as is the case where the sheets are disturbed through the opening and closing of a folder or binder to which the leaves are directly attached by means of rings orposts over which the loose sheets canindividually move during the operation It is hence obvious that such a folder is highly adaptable for use as a sample holder which must be'carried around for exhibiting purposes. It is likewise admirably adapted for use in any profession for containing form letters or any data to which reference may occasionally be made and to which it may be desirable at The folder strip substantially co-extensive with the length of the cover secured interiorly of said cover along substantially the center line of said strip whereby side flaps are provided and adjustable means extending through said flaps adapted for retaining the margins of sheets therebetween.

2. A folder comprising a one-piece flexible material folded upon a center line, a

flexible leaf retainer substantially co-extensive with the folded length of said cover hinged along said center line of said folder, said-retainer comprising sideflaps and adjustable means extending through said side flaps for retaining sheets therebetween.

3. In a folder, a piece of flexible material folded upon a center line, aflexible strip of material extending lengthwise of the folder andhinged along said center line interiorly of the folder to provide expansible side flaps V and adjustable telescopic means extending" through said flaps for retaining sheets therebetween.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my nameinthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE W. SEVERANCE. Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., JAMES M. OBRIEN. 

